Ideas 4 MAPS

[Laramie]

MAPS 4 projects include transit

Plans also have funding for youth centers and State Fair Park coliseum

By William Crum, Oklahoman Staff writer, Saturday, June 15

MAPS 4 will be about people as much as, or more than, it will be about buildings.

That is the early takeaway from a list of projects to be considered by the Oklahoma City Council over the next few months.

“I really think that the sentiment of the public is for geographic distribution around the city, not look so much at downtown, and to make sure that the needs we’re meeting are the needs of 2019,” said Mayor David Holt.

The council votes Tuesday on a schedule of four public hearings, where advocates of selected proposals will be invited to pitch their ideas in formal presentations.

Transit, senior health and wellness centers, youth centers, sidewalks, trails, bicycle lanes, streetlights and parks are on the table.

Solutions are proposed to address social ills such as mental illness, high incarceration rates, domestic violence, and homelessness.

Economic development is addressed with investment in the innovation district; a new animal shelter will get consideration.

Freedom Center, where civil rights pioneer Clara Luper fostered her NAACP Youth Council, would be restored. The new State Fair Park coliseum, Chesapeake Energy Arena upgrades for the NBA's Thunder, and a multipurpose stadium for sporting events including soccer are in the mix.

"After 25 years of investing in quality of life amenities and entertainment amenities and visitor amenities," Holt said, "... maybe we can take a look now at things like homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence.

"Same MAPS model, 1-cent temporary tax, but the subject matter can change to fit the times," Holt said Friday afternoon. "I think that's what's happening here with MAPS 4."

The city council's review sessions July 9, 11 and 31 and Aug. 6 will be open to the public. Besides the formal presentations, anyone with an idea will have a chance to speak.

The city council will settle on a list of projects to promise to voters who, should they agree, would authorize extending the 1-cent MAPS sales tax. Voters could be asked to extend the tax for seven or eight years to raise around $800 million. An election could take place in December once the council makes its decisions, which could be settled as soon as Labor Day. Voters approved the first Metropolitan Area Projects, or MAPS, sales tax in 1993.

How MAPS 3

compares

MAPS 3 has raised more than $800 million in sales tax proceeds and interest since winning voters' support in December 2009.

Major construction projects are MAPS 3's most visible legacy. The convention center complex includes a luxury hotel and parking garage, with total public and private investment in the range of $550 million. MAPS 3 built the Oklahoma City Streetcar line and is building the new downtown park, both $130 million-plus projects.

MAPS 3 also has added to the trails system, built sidewalks — though not as many miles as originally envisioned — and has built two senior health and wellness centers, with two more expected to begin construction soon.

As the MAPS 3 sales tax was expiring in 2017, voters approved a MAPS for streets extension to raise about $240 million for street resurfacing and related improvements.

MAPS 4 sales tax collections could begin April 1, 2020, after the MAPS for streets extension expires.

On the sidelines

In his State of the City address in January, Holt listed projects he said seemed to have some traction after his October call to residents to "dream big" and submit their ideas, mostly through the ideasformaps.com website: https://www.okc.gov/government/maps-4.

Among the ideas listed that day that appear to be out of the conversation: a streetcar extension, aerospace job training center and aquarium.

Holt proposed that day an endowment fund to produce income for ongoing expenses, such as operating costs and maintenance. That idea was well-received and remains alive.

[SouthSide]

So the one thing the south okc chamber asked for, aerospace job training center, is out.

[OKC Guy]

IMO this will be DOA for many reasons.

First is timing. Right now and even on this board there is no consensus and ideas are all over the map. For this to pass you need some momentum but its middle June and no idea what will be in the bill. And the vote this year? No time to get word out and fully explain. If approved in Sep and voted in Dec thats a short window in one of the busiest times of year for voters.

I also think voters are opposite now vs prior votes. In past if they liked a few of the projects they overlooked those they didn’t. Now it feels like voters are looking hard at the items they don’t want and this will have a bigger bearing on votes. Maybe its because social media pushes info out faster?

Making it 8 or more years means zero other projects for at least 10-15 years. This is not good planning with how fast our city is/has changed. If some think Aquarium is needed thats gonna be at least 12 years away at best (approved in MAPS 5 plus a few years to build after money comes in). Thats a huge problem to me. These 8-10 year long MAPS are not wise because we are now much better off than prior to MAPS 1 (when we needed massive projects). We need to make MAPS shorter duration to keep a better focus on more immediate needs and ability to change as city changes. Look at the diff from 2009 to 2019.

Do a 2 year MAPS worth $200m. Then start to work on MAPS 5 ideas. For example, if Aquarium is not on MAPS 4 it might be more wanted in 2 years for MAPS 5. This gives hope to those who want it. Right now if we do a 8 year MAPS 4 and its not listed the Aquarium will never get done or even have a chance to get done. And those voters are going to lose interest in MAPS. Make each MAPS 2 years and you will keep more people invested and positive knowing they might get their project in the next go around in 2 years.

We need to maintain flexibility in what projects we build. An 8 year MAPS is stupid in my opinion. We don’t fund the city for 8 years at a time because things change. We are gonna regret doing 8 years and then no way to undo it if it passes. No way to get other projects voted on as needs and wants change.

I think the 8 year plan will fail and only then will they realize they need to scale these down to 2 year MAPS cycles.

I know some will disagree with me and thats fine. This is my opinion and will continue to be expressed to my rep. I will vote NO on any 8 year MAPS

[Dob Hooligan]

Although I usually agree with civic leaders and have votes yes for all MAPS, I think the 8 year idea is not good. I don't really think it will be put to a vote in that fashion. I get the feeling that Mayor Holt might be getting carried away in his youthful zeal and speaking as if he will be Mayor that long. He probably will be Mayor as long as the law allows. but I'm not sure it is good politics to assume so.

[HangryHippo]

So the one thing the south okc chamber asked for, aerospace job training center, is out.

Which is stupid on the city’s part. I’ll hold off on a final judgment until I see the ballot (naturally), but it’s looking like the end of my MAPS support.

[Laramie]

Any ideas on what an aerospace job training center will cost?

Will we be training talented personnel to send them out-of-state for more lucrative job offers: think about it.

[Quicker]

Any ideas on what an aerospace job training center will cost?

Will we be training talented personnel to send them out-of-state for more lucrative job offers: think about it.

It’s something the South Chamber has put a lot of time and effort in to... it would be a partnership where the airport trust donates the land in Lariat Landing, Maps would build the facility, corporate partners from Will Rogers and Tinker would help develop the curriculum and a partnership of metro vo-techs would provide the administration and staffing...

It’s will be a huge disappointment to civic leaders in south OKC if this isn’t included

[Laramie]

Haven't seen anything from the South Chamber on an aerospace job training center; tried looking this up on Google with no success. Does anyone have any links?

Did find this link from Journal Record: https://journalrecord.com/2019/03/07...ahoma-advance/

Is this already funded?

Again, just looking for links & information since this was a pet peeve project of the South Chamber of Commerce who did extensive work on this project.

[SouthSide]

I heard about it in a response form David Greenwell but his office didn't provide any real detail. You would probably need to contact Elaine Lyons with the South OKC chamber. Her letter to the Oklahoman https://oklahoman.com/article/563044...aps-4-projects

[Quicker]

Haven't seen anything from the South Chamber on an aerospace job training center; tried looking this up on Google with no success. Does anyone have any links?

Did find this link from Journal Record: https://journalrecord.com/2019/03/07...ahoma-advance/

Is this already funded?

Again, just looking for links & information since this was a pet peeve project of the South Chamber of Commerce who did extensive work on this project.

I don’t know if there is a link with any details. I’m a member of the South Oklahoma City Chamber and although I’m not very involved, I have friends that are that told me about it...

[Zorba]

It’s something the South Chamber has put a lot of time and effort in to... it would be a partnership where the airport trust donates the land in Lariat Landing, Maps would build the facility, corporate partners from Will Rogers and Tinker would help develop the curriculum and a partnership of metro vo-techs would provide the administration and staffing...

It’s will be a huge disappointment to civic leaders in south OKC if this isn’t included

Would this be like the Tulsa Tech center at Riverside airport in Tulsa? A&P and Flight school training?

[Quicker]

Would this be like the Tulsa Tech center at Riverside airport in Tulsa? A&P and Flight school training?

A&P... I don’t think it would involve any flight training

[Pete]

I came across this rendering of the aquarium, which now seems to be scuttled.

The idea was to build it on the far south end of the Coop property and extend the canal to run right through it.

[Plutonic Panda]

Wow. That would have been really cool. I hope an aquarium is included.

[Laramie]

Pete, are both of structures (placeholders) the aquarium (?) because if they are it would have been helpful to have seen this information, renderings & estimated costs.

There are meetings scheduled; still if someone wants to pitch a last ditch effort for reconsideration--what have we got to lose:

The four city meetings are slated to begin in July and conclude in early August:

July 9 — Palomar Family Justice Center; parks; sidewalks, bike lanes, trails and streetlights; Freedom Center.
July 11 — Youth centers; beautification; Oklahoma State Fair coliseum; senior wellness centers; animal shelter.
July 31 — Transit; homelessness; Chesapeake Energy Arena and NBA enhancements; diversion hub.
Aug. 6 — Mental health; multipurpose stadium; innovation district.

Still time to rally behind the aquarium.

[BoulderSooner]

I came across this rendering of the aquarium, which now seems to be scuttled.

The idea was to build it on the far south end of the Coop property and extend the canal to run right through it.

the zoo leadership had done a bunch of work on the possible new aquarium including multi meetings with the coop developers/property owners .. all of they above were very on board and the thought was that it would anchor large scale retail in that area and a canal extention

really sad and suprised that this is not going to be included in maps 4 ... it IMHO was one of the few projects that the entire city would get behind ..

[jn1780]

They sure are trying hard to make MAPS 4 not become a reality.

[BoulderSooner]

They sure are trying hard to make MAPS 4 not become a reality.

sadly i agree

[Ross MacLochness]

I really don't see the appeal of an *edit: publicly funded* aquarium, but to each his own..

[BoulderSooner]

I really don't see the appeal of an *edit: publicly funded* aquarium, but to each his own..

somthing that would bring millions of visitors and tax dollars to OKC is the appeal ..

[OkiePoke]

An aquarium really hits all the points: local entertainment, tourist attractions, generates tax dollars. One of a few projects that could actually generate money for operations.

If someone wants to lead the charge on trying to get the citizens behind this project, PM me and I will support you and try to help out the best I can.

[EBAH]

I really don't see the appeal of an *edit: publicly funded* aquarium, but to each his own..

No, me either. 1) This is 2019, why an Aquarium ?!?! 2) Does the one in Jenx pull in enough money to make a massive multi million dollar city funded construction project make sense ?!?! 3) If the goal is to build a genuinely urban, cosmopolitan environment to help encourage modern diverse employment and innovation, why are we still chasing after marquee attractions mostly focused on an old fashioned definition of family and white suburbanites.

Young tech centered or creative centered people looking for cities to host them don't even sort of care about things like this. We don't even have an art museum that can unapologetically show a nipple without people losing their mind. We don't need a stupid aquarium. We're not even coastal. Not to mention we have 2 aquarium sections at our huge zoo. When do we finally get big and wealthy enough to stop just proposing the same lame stuff that our bigger neighbors have?!?!

[jccouger]

What is exactly is the Chesapeake & NBA improvements? I haven't seen anything in regards to that.

[HangryHippo]

why are we still chasing after marquee attractions mostly focused on an old fashioned definition of family and white suburbanites.

L.U.L.Z.

Like the Georgia Aquarium? It's in a downtown that is 54% black and sees approximately two and a half million visitors annually. Sure seems like old-fashioned, white, suburban fun.

[Laramie]

Put the Zoo Aquarium development in Strawberry Fields; it would be just as accessible as the Coop site.

An Aquarium would go over well as a downtown tourist attraction; especially since it would be in close proximity from the new convention center, Omni hotel, downtown hotels, Myriad Gardens & Scissortail Park.